Continuum-based selection of product choice

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sized visual representations are disclosed. In an embodiment, a user is presented with at least one continuum-based selector and at least one product choice visual representation. At least one input indicating user interest value in a product attribute is received and compared with stored result values of product choices. A unique weighing value indicating the relevancy of the product choice is generated for each product based on the comparison performed. The user is then presented with at least one product choice visual representation which may be modified based on the unique weighing value of the product choice.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/486,453 filed Jun. 1, 2012, the content of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety and to which priority is claimed.Said U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/486,453 claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/491,998, titled “Process forSearching, Obtaining and Displaying Personalized Recommendations UsingMulti-Positional Inputs and Variable-Sized Images,” filed on Jun. 1,2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference as to its entirecontents.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to identifying and selecting products andmore particularly to obtaining and displaying product choices usingcontinuum-based inputs.

BACKGROUND

Despite a glut of accessible information, consumers do not have a quick,easy, and manageable way to obtain and evaluate information aboutproducts or services. Satisfactory selection of a product or servicefrequently requires many hours of research. Users must absorb and sortthousands of available website links, lists, reviews and often redundantor repetitive textual descriptions.

For example, many consumers use the Internet to obtain and evaluateproduct or service information and to purchase products and services.Consumers seek to readily identify products and/or services that willsatisfy the consumer's desires. Ideally, identification of a suitableproduct or service would be accomplished without repetitive searching;however the binary nature of Boolean search terms is often ill equippedto capture the nuance of a consumer's desire during an initial search,leading to repetitive searching. Additionally, web search enginesrequire users to generate relevant textual search terms, ensure thatthey are spelled correctly (especially if it is a proper name or moreobscure term), type or select those terms from a list, submit a searchquery and then scan, read and evaluate the best text-based results froma list often containing thousands of options. This process can requiresignificant time investment without guaranteeing that a satisfactoryresult will be found because the consumer must themselves initiallydirect the search with an imperfect idea of how to properly, preciselyclassify desirable products or services.

In some industries, consumers often utilize guides who present choicesto the consumer. These initial choices may be based on the consumer'stastes, location, and other relevant factors. An example of a guide is atravel agent who considers a client's vacation destination tastes,budget, and visceral responses to initial questions and criteriapresented. The travel agent then applies their knowledge and experienceto the consumer's interests and presents the consumer with one or morechoices based on the travel agent's analysis of the consumer'sinterests. This guided selection of a vacation destination may gothrough several iterations of choices being presented to the consumerbefore a vacation destination is ultimately selected.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the subject matter to be claimed, nor is itintended to be used to limit the scope of the subject matter to beclaimed.

This disclosure addresses the above-described situation by providingmethods, computer program products, and systems for facilitatingsearching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations usinginputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sized visualrepresentations. Disclosed methods, computer program products, andsystems are suitable for displaying product choices from many differentindustries. More specifically, the present disclosure presents visualrepresentations of product choices to a user. Product choices may beselected from categories including the following exemplary categories:vacation destinations, vacation activities, vacation accommodations,vacation packages, restaurants, music, art, audiovisual entertainment,live entertainment, consumer goods, political candidates, politicalbeliefs, medical treatments, and medical conditions. A product choice isan individual product, service, combination of products and services,user-selectable unit, or consumer-selectable unit within a category orcategories. Product choices may be presented or selected in a variety ofcircumstances including browsing the Internet for a product choice froma computing device, selecting or being presented with a product choicevia a smartphone application, selecting or being presented with productchoices based on user input received by an advertisement (e.g., wherethe user indicates an interest level via a slider within a displayedadvertisement and the user is directed to a page with relevant productchoices).

In some embodiments, the visual representation is modified according touser interest levels. In some embodiments, the visual representation ismodified according to other data including user location, consumerratings, expert reviews, and saved user tastes and selections. Userinput values are input via a continuum-based selector which comprisespre-selected product choice criteria. The continuum-based selectorfacilitates receipt and precise identification of user desires in aproduct (e.g., “royal blue” instead of “blue” or “red”, “partly sunny”instead of “rain” or “sun”), compared to binary radio button, check-box,or drop-down menu-based selections of product choice criteria.

In some embodiments, as a result of the present disclosure's systems,computer program products, and methods, the user is presented with agraphical user interface (GUI) comprising at least one continuum-basedselector and at least one product choice visual representation. The GUIallows the user to select a product choice or input user interest valuesutilizing at least one continuum-based selector.

In some embodiments, user interest values are receivable from sourcesother than the user. User inputs are received from user interaction withat least one continuum-based selector. Each continuum-based selectorcomprises at least one pre-selected criterion, a cursor capable of beingmanipulated by the user, and a cursor area wherein the user moves thecursor to indicate his relative interest in the at least one criterionin the continuum-based selector.

Methods, computer program products, and systems of the presentdisclosure compare one or more user interest values with at least oneproduct choice. The comparison comprises identifying the similarity ofuser interest value with stored result values located on computerreadable media for a given product choice. A unique weighing value isgenerated for each product choice compared; the unique weighing value isat least partially based on the comparison of user interest value andstored result values previously performed. The unique weighing valuecorresponds to the relevance of a specific product choice to the userbased at least in part on received user interest values. The user isthen presented with at least one product choice visual representation.The visual representation presented is modified based on the uniqueweighing value of the product choice depicted. In some embodiments, thisvisual representation is scaled in proportion to the unique weighingvalue of the product choice depicted.

Further features and advantages of the methods, computer programproducts, and systems disclosed herein, as well as the structure andoperation of various aspects of the present disclosure, are described indetail below with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become moreapparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken inconjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicateidentical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer systemuseful for implementing the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary graphical user interface forsearching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations usinginputs including continuum-based inputs and variable-sized visualrepresentations, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for searching,obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputsincluding continuum-based inputs and variable-sized visualrepresentations according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for searching,obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputsincluding continuum-based inputs and variable-sized visualrepresentations wherein additional information about a product choice ispresented to the user according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a screenshot illustrating an exemplary graphical userinterface for searching, obtaining and displaying product choicerecommendations using inputs including continuum-based inputs andvariable-sized visual representations, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to obtaining and displaying productchoice recommendations using continuum-based inputs. As used herein, a“product choice” refers to an individual product, service, combinationof products and services, user-selectable unit, or consumer selectedunit within a category or categories or a decision on any queryfacilitated by simultaneous consideration of multiple inputs. Productchoices may be selected from categories including the followingexemplary categories: vacation destinations, vacation activities,vacation accommodations, vacation packages, music, music playlists, art,audiovisual entertainment, live entertainment, consumer goods, politicalcandidates, political beliefs, medical treatments, and medicalconditions.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) afterreading the description herein, the methods, computer program products,and systems for facilitating searching, obtaining and displaying productchoice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs,and variable-sized visual representations of the present disclosure maybe utilized by a service provider. As used herein, a “service provider”refers to an individual, person, business, or automated system who maybe providing goods and/or services. The service provider may allow usersto access an ecommerce website on a free registration, paid subscriberand/or pay-per-use basis via one or more World-Wide Web (WWW) sites onthe Internet.

As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s), inan aspect, various (login, admin, account, information, resource,logout, payment, registration, communications, etc.) screens would begenerated by the service provider's WWW site(s) in response to inputfrom users over the Internet. That is, in such an embodiment, theservice provider would have a typical Web server running a serverapplication at a Web site which sends out Web pages in response toHypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or Hypertext Transfer ProtocolSecured (HTTPS) requests from remote browsers on various devices beingused by various users. Thus, the server would provide a graphical userinterface (GUI) to users in the form of Web pages. These Web pages aresent to one or more desktop (PC), laptop, tablet, notebook, mobiledevice, PDA, smart phone or like computing functionality (devices) 100utilized by users, and would result in the GUI being displayed.

As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s)after reading the description herein, alternate aspects of the presentdisclosure may include providing the tool for facilitating searching,obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs,including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sized visualrepresentations within a stand-alone system (e.g., installed on oneserver PC) or as an enterprise system wherein all the components areconnected and communicate via an inter-corporate wide area network (WAN)or local area network (LAN) rather than as an ecommerce Web service(i.e., application service provider (ASP) model utilized by various,unrelated/unaffiliated users.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram illustrating an exemplarycomputer system useful for implementing the present disclosure is shown.FIG. 1 sets forth illustrative computing functionality 100 that may beused to implement any aspect of the functions described herein. Forexample, computing functionality 100 may be used to implement any aspectof the present disclosure. In all cases, computing functionality 100represents one or more physical and tangible processing mechanisms.

Computing functionality 100 may include volatile and non-volatilememory, such as RAM 102 and ROM 104, as well as one or more processingdevices 106 (e.g., one or more central processing units (CPUs), one ormore graphical processing units (GPUs), and the like). Computingfunctionality 100 also optionally includes various media devices 108,such as a hard disk module, an optical disk module, and so forth.Computing functionality 100 can perform various operations identifiedabove when the processing device(s) 106 executes instructions that aremaintained by memory (e.g., RAM 102, ROM 104).

More generally, instructions and other information may be stored on anycomputer readable medium 110, including, but not limited to, staticmemory storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and optical storagedevices. The term “computer readable medium” also encompasses pluralstorage devices. In all cases, computer readable medium 110 representssome form of physical and tangible entity. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer readable medium 110 may comprise “computer storagemedia” and “communications media.”

“Computer storage media” include volatile and non-volatile, removableand non-removable media implemented in any method or technology forstorage of information, such as computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data. Computer storage mediainclude, but are not limited to, RAM 102, ROM 104, EEPROM, Flash memoryor other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) orother optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which canbe used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by acomputer.

“Communication media” typically embody computer readable instructions,data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated datasignal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communicationmedia also include any information delivery media. The term “modulateddata signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristicsset or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal.By way of example, and not limitation, communication media include wiredmedia such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wirelessmedia such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer readable medium.

Computing functionality 100 also includes an input/output module 112 forreceiving various inputs (via input modules 114), and for providingvarious outputs (via one or more output modules). One particular outputmechanism may include a presentation module 116 and an associated GUI118. Computing functionality 100 may also include one or more networkinterfaces 120 for exchanging data with other devices via one or morecommunication conduits 122. One or more communication buses 124communicatively couple the above-described components together.

Communication conduit(s) 122 may be implemented in any manner (e.g., bya local area network, a wide area network (e.g., the Internet), etc., orany combination thereof). Communication conduit(s) 122 can include anycombination of hardwired links, wireless links, routers, gatewayfunctionality, name servers, etc., governed by any protocol orcombination of protocols.

Alternatively, or in addition, any of the functions described herein canbe performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware logiccomponents. For example, without limitation, illustrative types ofhardware logic components that can be used include Field-programmableGate Arrays (FPGAs), Application-specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs),Application-specific Standard Products (ASSPs), System-on-a-chip systems(SOCs), Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs), etc.

The terms “module” and “component” as used herein generally representsoftware, firmware, hardware, or combinations thereof. In the case of asoftware implementation, the module or component represents program codethat performs specified tasks when executed on a processor. The programcode can be stored in one or more computer readable memory devices, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 1 The features of the presentdisclosure described herein are platform-independent, meaning that thetechniques can be implemented on a variety of commercial computingplatforms having a variety of processors (e.g., desktop, laptop,notebook, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), mobiletelephone, smart telephone, gaming console, and the like).

Referring now to FIG. 2, an illustration of an exemplary GUI 118 for thesearching, obtaining and displaying of product choice recommendationsusing inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sizedvisual representations, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is shown.

GUI 118 comprises one or more product choice visual representations 202and one or more continuum-based selectors 208 (shown as selectors 208a-208 f in FIG. 2). In an embodiment, GUI 118 is presented to a user bypresentation module 116 of computing system 100 (e.g., a desktop,laptop, notebook, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA),mobile telephone, smart telephone, gaming console, etc.). In someembodiments, presentation module 116 also comprises input module 114(e.g., a mouse, keyboard, touch screen, camera systems configured todetect and accept user input). In other embodiments, input modules 114are partially distinct from presentation module 116. In suchembodiments, input modules 114 may be a keyboard and mouse wherein theuser may interact with methods, computer program products, and systemsaccording to the present disclosure by moving a pointer within GUI 118.

In an embodiment, presentation module 116 presents at least one productchoice visual representation 202. In an embodiment, more than oneproduct choice visual representation 202 depict the same product choice,but using different visual representations in order to provide the userwith more information about the product choice. In other embodimentseach product choice visual representation 202 depicts a differentproduct choice, thus maximizing the number of choices presented to theuser within GUI 118. In an embodiment, product choice visualrepresentations 202 are scaled according to component calculations ofunique weighing value of the product choice depicted. In one embodiment,large scale depiction 204 indicates a high unique weighing value for theproduct choice depicted. Small scale depiction 206 indicates a lowerunique weighing value for the product choice depicted. In someembodiments, a high unique weighing value indicates that the productchoice is very relevant to the user, based on received user interestvalues.

In some embodiments, product choice visual representations 202 arepresented to the user via presentation module 116 before the user hasinteracted with methods, computer program products, and systemsaccording to the present disclosure. In an embodiment, product choicevisual representations 202 presented before a user has interacted withcomputing functionality 100 represent a random selection of productchoices. In another embodiment, product choice visual representations202 presented before a user has interacted with computing functionality100 represent product choices appealing to the user based on stored userpreferences accessed by computing functionality 100. In yet anotherembodiment, product choice visual representations 202 presented before auser has interacted with computing functionality 100 represent productchoices which are relevant to similar users. In yet another embodiment,product choice visual representations 202 presented before a user hasinteracted with computing functionality 100 represent popular productchoices. In yet another embodiment, product choice visualrepresentations 202 presented before a user has interacted withcomputing functionality 100 represent promotional product choices,seasonally relevant product choices or specially chosen product choicebased on known information about the user, such as the user's location,budget, travel destination desire, and past shopping habits.

One or more product choice visual representations 202 are presented,providing the user with product choices and representations of productattributes before the user independently formulates a complete list ofproduct attributes they seek in selecting a product choice. A productattribute is a trait of a product choice. For example, a product choiceof a beach vacation to Miami Beach, Florida has the product attributesof “sun,” “beach,” “Miami Beach,” and so forth. Initially presenting theuser with one or more product choice visual representations 202 exposesthe user to additional product choices and attributes which the user maynot have considered when initially seeking (or searching for) a productchoice.

In some embodiments, after the user has interacted with computingfunctionality 100, a portion of GUI 118 displays one or more productchoice visual representations 202 which are unrelated or loosely-relatedto received user interest values. These product choice visualrepresentations 202 expose the user to additional product choices andattributes which the user may not have considered when initially seeking(or searching for) a product choice and may assist the user in findingthe most desirable product choice because being presented with unrelatedor loosely-related product choices may prompt the user to reevaluatetheir criteria 210 selections.

Each continuum-based selector 208 comprises one or more criteria 210(shown as criteria 210 a-210 b in FIG. 2), a cursor 212 (shown as cursor212 a in FIG. 2), and a cursor area 214 (shown as cursor area 214 a).Although a plurality of criteria 210, cursors 212, and cursor areas 214are present in FIG. 2, labels for criteria 210, cursors 212, and cursorareas 214 associated with continuum-based selectors 208 b-208 f havebeen omitted for the sake of clarity of FIG. 2. Each criteria 210 is anindication of one or more product attributes. In an embodiment, criteria210 is a word (e.g., “rain,” “sun,” “beach,” “mountain In anotherembodiment, criteria 210 is a visual signal (e.g., a picture of amountain, a graphic of a tree). In another embodiment, criteria 210 isan audiovisual clip, such as a video of individuals dancing in anightclub. In another embodiment, criteria 210 is an audio clip, such asthe sound of splashing waves. In yet another embodiment, criteria 210are only visual representations such as an icon or a graphic. Icon- orgraphic-based criteria 210 are capable of being understood by the userregardless of the user's native language.

In yet another embodiment, at least one criteria 210 is a limitingcriteria 210. The limiting criteria 210 excludes product choices andother criteria 210 which conflict with the limiting criteria 210. Forexample, in an embodiment where the user is selecting a television, sizeis a limiting criteria 210. The user may indicate their desire to selecta television which has a viewing diagonal of at least fifty inches. Inan embodiment where user is selecting a vacation package, limitingcriteria 210 may be the location of the vacation package. For example,user may indicate their desire to select a vacation package within thestate of Florida, or within Europe. Cursor 212 is an icon presented inGUI 118, movable by the user (via one or more input modules 114) inorder to express user interest in one or more criteria 210. Cursor area214 is an n-dimensional space wherein cursor 212 is moveable. Cursor 212is moveable relative to one or more criteria 210 positioned relative tocursor area 214. In one embodiment, continuum-based selector 208 is aslider comprising two criteria 210, a cursor 212, and a cursor area 214.One criterion 210 is positioned on one end portion of a two-dimensionalcursor area 214 and one criterion 210 is positioned on the other,opposite end portion of two-dimensional cursor area 214. Cursor 212 ispositioned along cursor area 214 and is movable along the axis of cursorarea 214, in motion relative to the positions of criteria 210. In anembodiment, continuum-based selector 208 is a tuning knob and cursorarea 214 is a circle. Cursor 212 position relative to criteria 210 isdetermined based on the radial position of cursor 212.

In an embodiment, the user inputs their interest in one or more criteria210 by moving cursor 212 within cursor area 214 relative to thepositions of one or more criteria 210. In one embodiment, a firstcriteria 210 a is positioned on one end portion of a two-dimensionalcursor area 214 and a second criteria 210 b is positioned on the other,opposite end portion of two-dimensional cursor area 214. First andsecond criteria 210 are qualitatively distinct (e.g., rain and sun,swimming and hiking, beach and mountain, active and relaxing, quiet andlively, adults only and kid-friendly). In another embodiment, first andsecond criteria 210 are quantitatively distinct (e.g., $ and $$$$,$100/day and $10,000/day). In some embodiments, nuance of languageallows usage of criteria 210 contained in continuum-based selector 208to be less qualitatively or quantitatively distinct (e.g., sunny andpartly cloudy, $200/day and $300/day). In another embodiment, a singlecriteria 210 is present in multiple continuum-based selectors 208.Cursor 212 in each continuum-based selector 208 is movable relative tosingle criteria 210 and other criteria 210. In such embodiments, theposition of cursor 212 relative to single criteria 210 and othercriteria 210 is modifiable by the user via input module 114.

In another embodiment, continuum-based selector 208 is an area whereincursor 212 is movable in two dimensions and configured as a slider bar.In some embodiments, cursor area 214 is a box. In another embodiment,cursor area 214 is a circle or triangle. In some embodiments, criteria210 are statically placed relative to cursor area 214. The user movescursor 212 relative to statically placed criteria 210 in continuum-basedselector 208. The relative position of cursor 212 to criteria 210indicates the user's relative interest level in criteria 210 containedin continuum-based selector 208. In one embodiment, continuum-basedselector 208 comprises a triangular cursor area 214 wherein the triangleis an equilateral triangle, three criteria 210 positioned at the cornersof triangular cursor area 214, and a cursor 212 located withintriangular cursor area 214 and moveable by the user.

In another embodiment, continuum-based selector 208 is athree-dimensional area wherein cursor 212 is movable in three dimensionswithin continuum-based selector's 208 three-dimensional cursor area 214.In an embodiment, cursor area 214 is a cube. Criteria 210 areastatically placed on each side of the cube cursor area 214. Cursor 212is moveable by the user within the volume of cube cursor area 214. Inanother embodiment utilizing cube cursor area 214, cursor is moveable bythe user along the surface of cube cursor area 214. In other embodimentsutilizing three-dimensional cursor area 214, cursor area 214 may be ahexagonal tube, a triangular tube, a sphere, or another polyhedron.

In some embodiments, criteria 210 are not statically placed relative tocursor area 214. In an embodiment where the user indicates a high userinterest value in a given criteria 210, the user is presented withadditional, more particularized related criteria, enabling the user to“drill down” to criteria 210 which more accurately capture theirinterests.

In an embodiment, cursor area 214 contains a default state whereincursor 212 registers no preference between one or more criteria 210contained within continuum-based selector 208. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 2, the default state is located at a point on thecursor area 214 equidistant between two criteria 210 contained incontinuum-based selector 208 (e.g., criteria 210 a-b within selector 208a shown in FIG. 2). In some embodiments, cursor 212 located at thedefault state registers no user preference between two criteria 210contained in continuum-based selector 208. In other embodiments, cursorlocated at the default state indicates an apathy or neutrality towardcriteria 210 contained in continuum-based selector 208. In oneembodiment, continuum-based selector 208 comprises a triangular cursorarea 214 wherein the triangle is an equilateral triangle, three criteria210 positioned at the corners of triangular cursor area 214, and acursor 212 located within triangular cursor area 214 and moveable by theuser. In such an embodiment, the default state is located at a pointequidistant from the vertices of the triangular cursor area 214.

In an embodiment, GUI 118 is initially presented to the user comprisingcursors 212 in positions within their respective cursor areas 214indicating interest in one or more criteria 210. In an embodiment, theinitial positions of cursors 212 indicate the relative interest placedin these positions in response to inputs, including stored userpreferences, photos, the location of the user, user purchasing habits,and, in the case of travel product choice selection, destinationinformation from a third-party source, hotel, flight, travel package orother travel product inventory. This information is accessible viacommunication conduits 122 and stored on one or more computer readablemedium 110.

In some embodiments, GUI 118 comprises additional elements includinglinks to or text of user reviews and ratings, links to or text of expertreviews and rating, inventory levels, and a user login prompt.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processfor searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendationsusing inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sizedvisual representations according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is shown. In such an embodiment, one or more continuum-basedselectors 208 and one or more product choice visual representations 202are presented in GUI 118 and are configured such that the user caninteract with one or more continuum-based selectors 208 or one or moreproduct choice visual representations 202.

In an embodiment, process 300 is implemented utilizing computingfunctionality 100. Process 300 begins at step 302.

In step 302, a module of a program in accordance with this disclosureutilizes presentation module 116 to present one or more continuum-basedselectors 208 and one or more product choice visual representations 202to a user. In an embodiment, one or more continuum-based selectors 208and one or more product choice visual representations 202 are presentedin GUI 118. In an alternate embodiment, one or more continuum-basedselectors 208 and one or more product choice visual representations 202are presented via a two-dimensional display. In yet another alternateembodiment, one or more continuum-based selectors 208 and one or moreproduct choice visual representations 202 are presented via athree-dimensional display.

In step 304, at least one user interest value is received. The userinterest value is an indication of the user's desire to select a productchoice with a given attribute. In an embodiment, user interest valuesare receivable for a single person inputting user interest values viainput module 114. In another embodiment, user interest values arereceived from multiple users, as a group of friends are planning a tripand input user interest values via input modules 114 associated withmultiple computing devices. In yet another embodiment, user interestvalues are received from computer readable media 110. The user interestvalue is continuum-based. That is, where a user is very interested in agiven attribute (e.g., user must go to the beach on their vacation) ahigh user interest value is provided. Where a user is less interested ina given attribute (e.g., going to the beach while on vacation would benice, but not essential) a moderate user interest value is provided.Where a user does not want a given attribute (e.g., user does not wantto be near a beach) a low or zero user interest value is provided.

In an embodiment, the user inputs one or more user interest values viainput module 114 and GUI 118 by moving cursor 212 of continuum-basedselector 208. In other embodiments, user interest values are receivedfrom on-site or off-site computer readable medium 110 wherein the userinterest values provided are pre-defined to reflect the user interestvalues of a specific type of consumer, like a remote beach seeker, anavid soccer player, a single mother, or a retiree living in Florida.These pre-defined user interest values may be generated by users,programmers, product experts, and travel experts.

In some embodiments, received interest values from on-site or off-sitecomputer readable medium 110 are based on the user's location, such asthe user's home city or the location they are inputting user interestvalues at. For example, where the user is utilizing methods, computerprogram products, or systems in accordance with the present disclosureto select a vacation destination away from the user's home town, userinterest values received from on-site or off-site computer readablemedium 110 indicate that the user is located in San Francisco, Calif.and desires to go to another location for their vacation. In someembodiments, a user interest value also indicates San Francisco, Calif.is the flight departure and flight return location. In anotherembodiment, the user is located in Atlanta, Ga. and desires to havedinner at a local Italian restaurant. Received user interest valuesindicate the user's desire for Italian cuisine and for a restaurantlocation in Atlanta, Ga. In another embodiment, the user utilizesmethods, computer program products, or systems in accordance with thepresent disclosure to locate nearby shopping opportunities while theuser is walking around New York City's Times Square. Received userinterest values include the user's desire for nearby shoppingopportunities and the user's location in New York City's Times Square.

In some embodiments, user interest values are received in step 304 fromuser input via continuum-based selector 208. The user positions cursor212 on cursor area 214 at a location corresponding with their interestlevel in criteria 210 included in continuum-based selector 208. Cursor212 position indicates the user interest level. In step 304, theposition of cursor 212 is received by a program module configured toreceive user interest values. In some embodiments, the user movesseveral cursors 212, and more than one user interest value from theuser's actions are received.

In some embodiments, user interest values indicating limitations arereceived. In an embodiment where the user desires a television with aviewable diagonal larger than fifty inches a corresponding user interestvalue is received which will exclude televisions possession viewingdiagonals smaller than fifty inches. Limiting user interest values mayalso be geographic in nature. In an embodiment where user is selecting avacation package, the user may indicate their desire to select avacation package within the state of Florida, or within Europe. In suchembodiments, corresponding user interest values will be received whichexclude vacation packages outside the state of Florida or Europe. Aswill be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s), limiting userinterest values may be any attribute relevant to identify the user'sdesired product choice

In some embodiments, user input values received in step 304 are used toform a profile of the user's tastes or preferences. In some embodiments,criteria 210 contained in continuum-based selectors 208 presented to theuser are presented based on information contained in a user's profile.For example, a continuum-based selector 208 which contains the criteria210 “bikini” and “parka” for users without a profile contains thecriteria 210 “5-inch heels” and “flip-flops” for a user with a profileindicating that criteria 210 “5-inch heels” and “flip-flops” will bemore relevant selection criteria for that user. Optionally, the userprofile is viewable by other users and aids other users in identifyingindividuals with similar tastes. This knowledge lends credibility to auser's reviews or comments when viewed by others.

In step 306, process 300 compares the user interest levels received instep 304 with product choices. In one embodiment, this comparison isperformed by accessing one or more computer readable medium 110containing stored result values. Stored result values indicate thequantity or quality of an attribute a specific product choice has. Forexample, a vacation to Miami Beach, Florida would have high storedresult values for attributes such as “sunny weather,” “urban nightlife,” and “beach.” The vacation to Miami Beach, however, would have lowstored result values for such attributes as “rainy weather” and“mountain climbing.” In some embodiments, a lookup table for storedresult values is accessed and product choices with stored result valuesthat correspond with user interest values for the user interest valuessupplied are located. In some embodiments, where multiple user interestvalues have been supplied, multiple stored result values for a productchoice are compared to user interest values.

In some embodiments, limiting criteria 210 specify the source of thestored result values used in steps 304-306. In one such embodiment,continuum-based selectors 208 contain limiting criteria 210 indicatingsources of stored result values. Via continuum-based selectors 210 theuser is capable of indicating a range of sources they desire theirproduct choice recommendations to be based on. Sources of stored resultvalues include, but are not limited to, editorial sources (e.g., travelcommentators, product reviewers), crowd-sourced sources, and personalsources (e.g., friends, family, co-workers). Other sources includeexpert sources and novice sources.

In step 308, process 300 generates unique weigh values for at least oneproduct choice that was compared in step 306. In one embodiment, theunique weighing value of a product choice is generated by dividing theunique interest value supplied by the user for a given product choiceattribute by the stored result value for the product choice attribute.When the [user interest value] is equal to the [stored result value],the division operation results in a unique weighing value of 1. Thus,when a 1 is returned, this indicates the product choice would be highlyrelevant to the user. In other embodiments, multiple user interestvalues are received and compared in step 304 and step 306. Uniqueweighing values for a product choice are generated based on thesimilarity of more than one unique weighing value to its correspondingstored result value and higher unique weighing values are assigned wherea product choice possesses multiple stored result values which correlatestrongly with user interest values. Other methods for weighing andcalculating the relevance of a product choice to received user interestvalues will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts.

In step 310, process 300 presents to the user at least one productchoice visual representation 202. The product choice visualrepresentations 202 are modified based on the unique weighing value ofthe product choice that was generated in step 308. In one embodiment,product choice visual representations 202 are scaled in proportion totheir unique weighing values and presented to the user via presentationmodule 116. The relevance of the product choice is proportional to theunique weighing value of the product choice, with higher unique weighingvalues indicating that a product choice is more relevant to the user. Inan embodiment, large scale depiction 204 indicates a high uniqueweighing value for the product choice depicted and a small scaledepiction 206 indicates a lower unique weighing value for the productchoice depicted.

In some embodiments, at least one additional user interest value isreceived upon completion of step 310. Steps 306-310 may be repeated.Where unique weighing values are generated based on the at least oneadditional user interest value which differ from previous uniqueweighing values, the user is presented with product choice visualrepresentations 202 which differ from the initial product choice visualrepresentations 202 presented to the user. New product choice visualrepresentations 202 are scaled differently and represent differentproduct choices, depending on the embodiment.

In some embodiments, received user interest values for a single user aresaved in a user preference report. Information saved in the userpreference report includes, but is not limited to, the user input valuesreceived from an individual users input, the user input values comparedwith product choices, changes the user makes to user input values, andconsistency of user interest values over multiple input sessions. Insome embodiments, user preference report is transmitted to computerreadable media 110 where it is accessible by the user or a third party.Third parties include, but are not limited to, product choice suppliers,product choice providers, and product choice developers.

In some embodiments, information regarding user interest values is savedin an aggregate preference report. Information saved in the aggregatepreference report includes, but is not limited to, the user input valuesreceived from all user inputs, user input values compared with productchoices, changes users makes to user input values upon being presentedwith additional product choice visual representations, consistency ofuser interest values, and any other information a person having ordinaryskill in the art would find relevant when analyzing user choices,preferences, and desires. In some embodiments, aggregate preferencereport is transmitted to computer readable media 110 where it isaccessible by the user or a third party. Third parties include, but arenot limited to, product choice suppliers, product choice providers, andproduct choice developers.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processfor searching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendationsusing inputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sizedvisual representations wherein additional information about a productchoice is presented to the user according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure is shown.

In step 402, process 400 utilizes presentation module 116 to present oneor more continuum-based selectors 208 and one or more product choicevisual representations 202 to a user. In an embodiment, one or morecontinuum-based selectors 208 and one or more product choice visualrepresentations 202 are presented in GUI 118. That is, one or morecontinuum-based selectors 208 and one or more product choice visualrepresentations 202 are presented via presentation module 116 and areconfigured such that the user can interact with one or morecontinuum-based selectors 208 or one or more product choice visualrepresentations 202 via input module 114.

In an alternate embodiment, one or more continuum-based selectors 208and one or more product choice visual representations 202 are presentedvia a two-dimensional display. In yet another embodiment, one or morecontinuum-based selectors 208 and one or more product choice visualrepresentations 202 are presented via a three-dimensional display.

In step 404, the user requests basic product choice information. In anembodiment, basic product choice information is requested when the userplaces a pointer over a specific product choice visual representation202. Basic product information includes, but is not limited to, anenlarged product choice visual representation 202, pricing information,additional product choice description, ordering information, ratings,reviews, and inventory levels.

In step 406, presentation module 116 presents the user with at least oneenlarged product choice visual representation 202. Then, in step 408,presentation module 116 presents additional information related to theenlarged product choices. Additional information includes, but is notlimited to, pricing information, additional product choice description,ordering information, ratings, reviews, and inventory levels.

In some embodiments, the user moves a pointer to a product choice visualrepresentation 202 wherein the product choice visual representation 202is an image. The image of the product choice is scaled, for example, to150% of its previous size and text is displayed below the imageproviding the user with a textual description of the product choice.

In step 410, process 400 receives a request for detailed product choiceinformation. In some embodiments, a request for detailed product choiceinformation is received when the user utilizes input module 114 andselects a product choice by clicking on a specific product choice visualrepresentation 202. Other means of receiving a request for detailedproduct choice information will be apparent to those skilled in therelevant art(s).

In alternate embodiments, the user may request detailed product choiceinformation such that step 410 occurs after step 408 (as shown in FIG.4). In yet another embodiment, however, step 410 may occur after step402. Detailed product information includes, but is not limited to,purchasing information, pricing information, additional product choicedescription, ordering information, ratings, reviews, and inventorylevels.

After receiving detailed product choice information request in step 410,presentation module 116 presents the user with detailed productinformation on a separate page, window, or section in step 412.

In step 414, presentation module 116 provides the user with one or moreoptions including, but not limited to, purchasing the product choice,saving information about the product choice to the user's account orcomputer, sending/sharing information about the product choice, creatinga review of the product choice, creating a rating of the product choice,or comparing the product choice with at least one other product choice.Sending information about the product choice includes sending an emailmessage containing information about a specified product choice to adesignated email address, sending a message via some third-partysoftware, sending a text (SMS) message, or sending a message via asocial networking site such as FACEBOOK® (available from Facebook, Inc.of Menlo Park, Calif.), PINTEREST® (available from Cold Brew Labs, Inc.of Palo Alto, Calif.), or LINKEDIN® (available from LinkedIn Corporationof Mountain View, Calif.).

Referring now to FIG. 5, a screenshot illustrating an exemplarygraphical user interface 500 for searching, obtaining and displayingproduct choice recommendations using inputs, including continuum-basedinputs, and variable-sized visual representations, according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

As explained above, process 300 is capable of presenting a uniqueweighing value of a product choice to the user. Thus, in an embodiment,a visual representation of value 502 is a text display of percentagematch. In another embodiment, visual representation of value 502 is arating between zero and five stars. In another embodiment, visualrepresentation of value 502 is a graphic icon indicating the productchoice's relevance to the user. In another embodiment, visualrepresentation of value 502 is a bounding box enclosing product choicevisual representations 202 with similar unique weighing values. In yetanother embodiment, visual representation of value 502 is a graphicaloverlay indicating the product choice's relevance to the user. Forexample, a graph indicates stored values associated with a productchoice and another graph indicates received user interest values. Wherevisual representation of value 502 is a graphical overlay indicating theproduct choice's relevance to the user, the graph indicating storedvalues associated with a product choice and the graph indicatingreceived user interest values are overlaid. Where the graphs completelyoverlap, the associated product choice is highly relevant. Where thegraphs partially overlap or do not overlap, the associated productchoice is less relevant or not relevant to the user.

In some embodiments, one or more visual representations of value 502indicating the unique weighing value of various product choice visualrepresentations 202 may be presented. In one such embodiment,presentation module 116 presents one or more visual representations ofvalue 502 to the user contemporaneously with or after step 310 ofprocess 300. In alternate embodiments where user input values havepreviously been stored, presentation module 116 may present one or morevisual representations of value 502 to the user contemporaneously withor after step 302 of process 300.

In some embodiments, product choice visual representations 202 arepresented to the user wherein the product choice visual representation202 additionally comprises previous choice information. Previous choiceinformation is a visual representation of the unique weighing valueassociated with the product choice depicted which was generated based onprevious received user interest values. In an embodiment where a userhas utilized methods, computer program products, and systems inaccordance with this disclosure in the past (e.g., visiting the sametravel website to choose a vacation destination once in the past),unique weighing values associated with product choices are stored.Product choice visual representations 202 associated with stored uniqueweighing values are presented to the user additionally comprisingprevious product information. For example, a user has previously visiteda travel website searching for a beach vacation. In the previous visit,a high unique weighing value for a trip to Waikiki was calculated andstored. The user returns to the travel website to search for a vacation.Upon arrival, or after additional inputs are received, the user ispresented with a picture of a Waikiki beach vacation and a graphicstating “You previously gave Waikiki five stars!”

In an embodiment, product choice visual representations 202 arepresented to the user in sequence. In some embodiments, the sequence isin descending order of relevance. In another embodiment, product choicevisual representations 202 are presented to the user via presentationmodule 116 presented to the user sequentially. One product choice visualrepresentation 202 may appear at a time. In some embodiments, the mostrelevant product choices with the highest unique weighing values arepresented to the user first. In an embodiment, comprising sequentialpresentation of product choice visual representations 202, a firstpresentation of a product choice is initiated and at least oneadditional product choice is presented after the first presentation hasbegun. In some embodiments, product choice visual representations 202are presented in a manner that fills a single display area uponconclusion of presenting all product choice visual representations 202to be presented to the user. In other embodiments, product choices arepresented in a slide show fashion and may be ordered according to uniqueweighing value.

In some embodiments, product choice visual representations 202 overlap.In other embodiments, such as one in accordance with GUI 500, productchoice visual representations 202 are presented in a grid arrangement.In some embodiments, a single set of product choice visualrepresentations 202 are presented via GUI 118 unless an input isreceived. In other embodiments, multiple sets of product choice visualrepresentations 202 are presented via GUI 118 in the absence of aninput. Presentation of multiple sets of product choice visualrepresentations 202 presents a user with more product choices and/ormore perspectives on the same product choice than a static presentationof product choices would present. In some embodiments, product choicevisual representations 202 are displayed in column or row format inorder of descending unique weighing value. In some embodiments, productchoice visual representations 202 are presented to the user according totheir distance from the user.

In some embodiments, the display format of GUI 118 is adjustable by theuser. In an embodiment, the user may input the maximum number of productchoice visual representations 202 to be displayed. In anotherembodiment, the user may select the type of product choice visualrepresentation 202 to be used to show product choices, including but notlimited to image, textual list, and map-based views.

While various aspects of the present disclosure have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled inthe relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure. Thus, the present disclosure should not be limited by any ofthe above described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

In addition, it should be understood that the figures in theattachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionalityand advantages of the present disclosure, are presented for examplepurposes only. The present disclosure is sufficiently flexible andconfigurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than thatshown in the accompanying figures.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and especially thescientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant art(s) who arenot familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determinequickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of thistechnical disclosure. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as tothe scope of the present invention in any way.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for facilitatingsearching, obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations usinginputs, including continuum-based inputs, and variable-sized visualrepresentations, comprising the steps of: (a) presenting at least onecontinuum-based selector to a user and at least one product choicevisual representation, and the at least one continuum-based selectorproviding a preference adjustment between a first attribute criteria anda second attribute criteria: (b) receiving at least one input indicatingat least one user interest value, the at least one input representing arelative preference between the first attribute criteria and the secondattribute criteria, and the receiving at least one input being performedby the user interfacing with the at least one continuum-based selector:(c) comparing the at least one user interest values with at least oneproduct choice, the comparing utilizing a ratio relationship between theat least one at least partially based on similarity of user interestvalue and stored result values for at least one product choice; (d)generating unique weighing values for at least one product choicecompared, wherein the generation of unique weighing values is at leastpartially based on the comparisons performed ratio relationship: and (e)presenting at least one product choice visual representation to the userwherein the product choice visual representation is modified based onthe unique weighing value of the product choice depicted in the productchoice visual representation.
 2. A computer-implemented method thatfacilitates searching, obtaining and displaying product choicerecommendations using inputs, including continuum-based inputs, andrelevance-indicating visual representations, the method comprising thesteps of: presenting a continuum-based selector to a user and at leastone product choice visual representation, the continuum-based selectorbeing based on a continuum between a plurality of attribute criteria,the plurality of attribute criteria including first attribute criteriaand second attribute criteria, and the continuum-based selectorproviding a relative preference adjustment between the first attributecriteria and the second attribute criteria, and presenting the user,upon the user presenting an interest in the first attribute criteriathrough the continuum-based selector, with additional moreparticularized criteria related to the first attribute criteria;receiving at least one input indicating at least one user interestvalue, the at least one input representing a relative preference betweenthe plurality of attribute criteria, and the receiving at least oneinput being performed by the user interfacing with the continuum-basedselector; comparing the at least one user interest value with a storedresult value for at least one product choice, the comparing utilizing aratio relationship between the at least one user interest value and astored result value for at least one product choice; generating a uniqueweighing value for at least one product choice compared based on theratio relationship, and presenting at least one product choice visualrepresentation to the user wherein the product choice visualrepresentation is modified based on the unique weighing value of theproduct choice depicted in the product choice visual representation. 3.The method of claim 2, the method including: presenting the user, uponthe user presenting an interest in the second attribute criteria throughthe continuum-based selector, with additional more particularizedcriteria related to the second attribute criteria.
 4. The method ofclaim 2, the method wherein the receiving at least one input includesreceiving input from multiple users via input modules associated withmultiple computing devices.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprisingthe steps of: receiving an input from the user requesting detailedproduct choice information; presenting information related to productchoices to the user; and providing the user one or more options chosenfrom the group consisting of purchasing the product choice, savinginformation about the product choice, sending information about theproduct choice, reading reviews of the product choice, reading ratingsof the product choice, creating a review of the product choice, creatinga rating of the product choice, or comparing the product choice with atleast one other product choice.
 6. The method of claim 2, whereinmodification of the product choice visual representation is scaling thesize of the product choice visual representation.
 7. The method of claim2, wherein the continuum-based selector is a user adjustable visualrepresentation of a slider bar.
 8. The method of claim 2, whereinproduct choice visual representations are presented to the user byinitiating a first presentation of a product choice and presenting atleast one additional product choice after the first presentation hasbegun.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality ofattribute criteria are related to different product attributes.
 10. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the plurality of attribute criteria are notmutually exclusive of one another.
 11. The method of claim 2, wherein:the first attribute criteria is constituted by a beach attribute; andthe second attribute criteria is constituted by a mountain attribute.12. The method of claim 2, the at least one product choice visualrepresentation being a plurality of product choice visualrepresentations, and the method including interfacing with the user toselect a maximum number of product choice visual representations. 13.The method of claim 2, the method including interfacing with the user toselect a type of product choice visual representation.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, the type of product choice visual representation including atleast one selected from the group consisting of image, textual list, andmap-based view.
 15. The method of claim 2, the product choice visualrepresentation is in the form of a three-dimensional display.
 16. Themethod of claim 2, the second attribute criteria constituted by anaudiovisual clip.
 17. The method of claim 2, further including providinglimiting criteria that specifies a source of the stored result value.18. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: presentingat least one further continuum-based selector to a user, the at leastone further continuum-based selector being based on a continuum betweenfurther attribute criteria; receiving at least one additional inputindicating at least one additional user interest value, and thereceiving at least one additional input being performed via the userinterfacing with the at least one further continuum-based selector;comparing the at least one additional user interest value with at leastone product choice, such comparison utilizing a ratio relationshipbetween the additional user interest value and stored result values forthe at least one product choice; generating unique weighing values foreach product choice compared based on the ratio relationship, whereinthe unique weighting values are generated based on similarity of boththe at least one user interest value and the at least one additionaluser interest value; and presenting at least one product choice visualrepresentation to the user wherein the product choice visualrepresentation is based on the unique weighing value of the productchoice depicted in the product choice visual representation.
 19. Acomputer readable storage medium that stores computer readableinstructions, the computer readable instructions facilitating searching,obtaining and displaying product choice recommendations using inputs,including continuum-based inputs, and relevance indicating visualrepresentations when executed by one or more processing devices, thecomputer readable storage medium constituted by non-transitorymachine-readable medium, the computer readable instructions comprising:logic configured to present a continuum-based selector to a user and atleast one product choice visual representation, the continuum-basedselector being based on a continuum between a plurality of attributecriteria, the plurality of attribute criteria including first attributecriteria and second attribute criteria, and the continuum-based selectorproviding a relative preference adjustment between the first attributecriteria and the second attribute criteria, and presenting the user,upon the user presenting an interest in the first attribute criteriathrough the continuum-based selector, with additional, moreparticularized criteria related to the first attribute criteria; logicconfigured to receive at least one input indicating at least one userinterest value, the at least one input comprising a relative preferencebetween the plurality of attribute criteria, and the logic configured toreceive the at least one input by the user interfacing with thecontinuum-based selector; logic configured to compare user interestvalues with at least one product choice, such comparison utilizing aratio relationship between the user interest value and stored resultvalues for at least one product choice; logic configured to generateunique weighing values for each product choice compared based on theratio relationship; and logic configured to present at least one productchoice visual representation to the user wherein the product choicevisual representation is modified based on the unique weighing value ofthe product choice depicted in the product choice visual representation.20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, the computerreadable instructions further comprising the steps of: logic configuredto present at least one further continuum-based selector to a user, theat least one further continuum-based selector being based on a continuumbetween further attribute criteria; logic configured to receive at leastone additional input indicating at least one additional user interestvalue, and the receiving at least one additional input being performedvia the user interfacing with the at least one further continuum-basedselector; logic configured to compare the at least one additional userinterest value with at least one product choice, such comparisonutilizing a ratio relationship between the additional user interestvalue and stored result values for the at least one product choice;logic configured to generate unique weighing values for each productchoice compared based on the ratio relationship, wherein the uniqueweighting values are generated based on similarity of both the at leastone user interest value and the at least one additional user interestvalue; and logic configured to present at least one product choicevisual representation to the user wherein the product choice visualrepresentation is based on the unique weighing value of the productchoice depicted in the product choice visual representation.